The Detroit Lions recently brought back rookie edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein, but his return came with a remarkable show of commitment to the team.
According to Hassanein, all 31 other NFL teams reached out with offers to add him to their practice squads. Despite the widespread interest, the Egyptian-born defender declined them all, insisting that his heart remained in Detroit.
“My agent kept telling me that everyone wanted me because I don’t count as an international roster spot,” Hassanein told Pride of Detroit’s Ryan Mathews. “But I told him, ‘I’m not leaving. I want to stay here. These people believed in me first, and I’ll give them everything I’ve got.’ Loyalty means everything to me. I’m honored to be back.”
The rookie, selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft, had shown flashes of potential during the preseason before getting hurt. In three preseason games, he posted five tackles, three run stops, and two quarterback pressures, earning solid Pro Football Focus grades:
- Overall: 73.5
- Run Defense: 69.0
- Tackling: 74.9
- Pass Rush: 66.3
Unfortunately, a pectoral injury in the second preseason game sidelined him. The Lions later waived him with an injury settlement, hoping they could eventually bring him back once he recovered — a gamble that has now paid off.
Detroit’s decision looks even smarter now, as Hassanein returns to a defense that’s performing among the league’s best. The Lions rank fourth in the NFL with 30 total sacks heading into Week 11.
Aidan Hutchinson (7) and Al-Quadin Muhammad (6) have combined for 13 of those sacks, while Marcus Davenport is expected to rejoin the lineup soon after being designated to return from injured reserve.
With Hassanein back in the mix, the Lions have added yet another layer of depth to an already fierce pass-rushing unit — and gained a young player whose loyalty to Detroit runs deep.
